Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 917: Health Occupations - Practice of Audiology - Definition

SB 917 clarifies the scope of practice for audiologists in Maryland by updating the legal definition of "practice audiology." It directly affects licensed audiologists by explicitly including the ordering and performing of in-office, non-radiographic scanning or imaging of the ear for auditory or vestibular conditions. The bill adds this specific imaging authority to existing duties like diagnosing ear conditions and fitting hearing aids, while clarifying that audiologists cannot perform surgeries, cochlear implant procedures, or prepare radiographic imaging. The change takes effect October 1, 2026, and aims to align legal definitions with current clinical practices.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 17, 2026

HB 543: Real Property - Landlord and Tenant - Family Child Care Homes

HB 543 allows landlords to charge up to two months' rent as a security deposit if a tenant operates a family child care home (defined as caring for up to eight children in a residence). It prohibits landlords from unreasonably restricting or banning such homes on single-family rental properties and shields landlords from civil liability related to the child care operation. Tenants must provide written notice 60 days before starting, share their child care registration, and supply insurance naming the landlord and property owners as additional insureds. The bill also requires tenants to notify landlords immediately if they stop operating the home and permits landlords to mandate $1 million liability insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1631: Agriculture - Hemp Manufacturing License - Establishment

This Maryland bill requires the Department of Agriculture to create a new hemp manufacturing license that allows businesses to legally produce, store, and transport hemp extracts. The legislation mandates strict tracking through chain of custody documentation and requires finished products to undergo independent testing with certificates of analysis. It also establishes rules to separate hemp manufacturing from cannabis operations and provides legal protection for those who possess hemp products in compliance with the new regulations.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1628: Higher Education - Academic Program Approval - Objections

This bill modifies Maryland's higher education regulations by removing the requirement that a proposed new academic program must be a graduate program for the Maryland Higher Education Commission or other institutions to file objections. The change allows objections to be raised for any type of new academic program, not just graduate-level ones, based on criteria such as mission consistency, regional need, program duplication, or violations of equal educational opportunity. Directly affected parties include the Maryland Higher Education Commission, public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education, and students who may be impacted by program approvals. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not alter the existing grounds for objections, only expanding the scope of programs eligible for review.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1644: Property Management Services - Licensing and Requirements

This Maryland bill requires property managers handling residential properties with four or more rental units to hold a state real estate broker license, expanding the definition of real estate brokerage services to include certain property management activities. The legislation mandates that landlords cannot use unlicensed property management services for qualifying residential properties and requires licensed property managers to complete continuing education on property management topics. Additionally, the bill establishes penalties for violations and creates a process for the State Real Estate Commission to investigate inadequate property management services after receiving a formal notice. These changes directly affect property management companies, landlords managing multi-unit residential properties, and the regulatory oversight provided by the State Real Estate Commission.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 908: Civil Actions - Failure to Restrict Distribution of Sexual Material Harmful to Minors

This Maryland bill establishes civil liability for commercial websites that knowingly distribute sexual material harmful to minors without implementing age verification systems. The law requires such sites to verify that users are at least 18 years old using government-issued ID, commercially reasonable methods, or digital identification before allowing access to the content. Additionally, the bill prohibits age verification providers from keeping any personal identifying information about individuals after they attempt to access the material. Parents or legal guardians can sue for damages if a minor accesses this content due to a site's failure to verify age, while the law exempts internet service providers and protects news organizations from these requirements.

Topics ✗ Technology

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1036: Office of the Attorney General - Independent Investigations Division - Federal Law Enforcement or Immigration Enforcement

HB 1036 requires Maryland’s Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division to investigate deaths or serious injuries occurring during interactions with federal law enforcement or immigration officers. The bill mandates that the Division submit investigation findings to the Governor and legislature within a specified timeframe. If the Attorney General determines sufficient evidence exists, they must prosecute federal officers for potential crimes. This law directly affects Maryland’s state investigations office, federal officers, and individuals involved in such incidents. It creates a concrete state-level process for reviewing federal enforcement actions that result in death or serious harm.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 676: Criminal Law - Threat of Mass Violence - Penalty

SB 676 upgrades the penalty for threatening mass violence from a misdemeanor to a felony in Maryland. It directly affects individuals who make threats via oral, written, or electronic communication that would place five or more people at substantial risk of death or serious injury if carried out. The bill establishes a felony charge punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both, and requires convicted individuals to reimburse government agencies for response costs. Key provisions clarify the threat threshold (affecting five or more people) and expand court options for penalties beyond standard fines or imprisonment.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 952: Economic Development - Charles County Waldorf Urban Redevelopment Corridor Authority - Established

SB 952 establishes the Waldorf Urban Redevelopment Corridor Authority in Charles County to revitalize neighborhoods in State Legislative Districts 27A and 28. The authority, created as a state instrumentality, must coordinate with residents on revitalization plans, modify boundaries via specific votes, and operate tax-exempt in certain circumstances. It is exempt from most state procurement and finance laws but must follow public meetings and ethics rules. The authority aims to promote economic development, retain/attraction of businesses, and support housing/commercial projects while becoming self-sustaining by 2036. This directly affects Charles County residents, local businesses, and developers within the designated corridor.

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 796: Commercial Law - Consumer Protections - Health Care Financing

SB 796 establishes new consumer protections for health care financing in Maryland by restricting how health care providers handle third-party financing (like credit cards or loans for treatment costs). It prohibits providers from applying for financing on a patient’s behalf, promoting financing to patients under anesthesia or during active treatment, or billing financiers more than 30 days before a procedure. Providers must give patients a written treatment plan and specific disclosures before discussing financing, and must issue full refunds within 15 days if treatment isn’t provided. The law applies to licensed health care providers (excluding hospitals) and aims to prevent deceptive practices while allowing financing for insurance copays or deductibles.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 785: Public Health and Health Insurance - Access to Abortion Care - Reporting Requirements

SB 785 requires the Maryland Department of Health to include specific recommendations in its annual report on the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program, aiming to address provider shortages for abortion services. It also mandates the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to collect annual data from insurers and health plans about federal Affordable Care Act segregated accounts, including receipts, disbursements, and balances. The Commissioner must submit this aggregated data to the Senate Finance and House Health Committees by January 1 each year, using data from the previous two years. This bill directly affects state health agencies, insurers, and legislative committees by creating new reporting obligations related to abortion care access and health insurance data transparency.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1450: Health Insurance - Coordination of Benefits - Carrier Responsibilities and Retroactive Denials of Reimbursement

HB 1450 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to coordinate payments when multiple insurers cover a single claim. Specifically, carriers must identify primary and secondary payors, calculate each payor’s share, and ensure combined payments do not exceed 100% of the claim amount. The bill also limits how long carriers can retroactively deny reimbursement: up to 9 months for other insurers, 18 months for Medicaid or Medicare, and 6 months in other cases, with written explanations required for denials. This directly affects health insurance companies and health care providers who receive payments, aiming to streamline billing and prevent overpayment disputes.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results